Mat dispenser or the like



Dec. 11, 1962 1.. ALLISON 3,

MAT DISPENSER OR THE LIKE File d April 20, 1960 Flg .3 I? i 30 zl 27 28 "g 25 K 29 2| 32 1 m -22 l '4 4/ 22b l2 k n l5 I8 23 l6 INVENTOR Moflhew Leroy Allison United States Patent Ofiiice 3,067,913 Patented Dec. 11, 1962 3,067,913 MAT DISPENSER OR THE LIKE Matthew Leroy Allison, 609 Chartiers St., Bridgevilie, Pa. Filed Apr. 20, 19%, Ser. No. 23,433 (Jlaims. (Gl- 222-211) Moreover, devices of my invennon are enclosed to prevent contamination or entry of dirt, and, at the same time, return to their original shape after use. That is to say, same time dispense sparingly, keep out foreign matter and permit replacement air to enter. They may also readily be filled, or emptied and flushed clean.

Other objects, features and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following decription and the accompanying drawings, which are illustrative of one embodiment only, in which 7 FIGURE 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of this invention, with a portion of the cover removed for purposes of description;

FIGURE 2 is a view in section taken along of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is l; and

FIGURE 4 is a view in section taken along line IV- IV of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings, dispenser It comprises a base or tray 11 having a bottom 12 and upstanding continuous peripheral walls 13 line II-II a view taken along line III-III of FIG- through the check valve valve they avoid spilling and at the 9 ing walls 13 in horizontal alignment with recess 2212.- A kerf 23 will inhibit any drawing in of water in the event that-dispenser It is not standing in a dry place. The passages 13a may he made in any suitable way and, if desired, may have filter cartridges inserted therein in the event, for dusty or dirty tion shown in FIGURE 2, ready for use, by a plurality of spaced resilient posts 26 extending between the underside cf the cover and bottom 12. Such posts, as shown,

self-closing slits 28 extending centrally therethrough and continued below which is always slightly above bottom portion 33 forming a downward flare the respective channel or wasting treating material. When the user removes his foot, the cover 25 and extensions 32 return to normal position shown in FIGURE 2, and slits 28 will close so e) that no dirt or other contaminant can enter the reservoir space 14. In the course of such restoration to normal position of cover 25, the ball 20 will rise sufficiently to allow air to pass through the passages 17 into the space 14 above the liquid to make up for the quantity lost. As and when the liquid in the tray is exhausted, plug 18 can be removed and fresh liquid poured through the bore 16 and passages 17 into space "M to the desired extent after which the check valve plug 18 is replaced and dispenser 10 is set down with its right side up. The depth of liquid preferably will be kept below the bottom of passage 17.

Although the embodiment illustrated has been described in its usage as a floor mat, it will be understood that such devices may be used on a shelf, table or counter for the disinfecting of hands, or of objects, while functioning in the manner described. Moreover, while the treating material has been referred to as a liquid, the devic will also operate on fluent powders of sufficient fineness, or on gases released by substances placed in the reservoir space 14 when the dispenser is made suiiiciently gas-tight, such gases being released when the bosses are depressed. Additionally, various changes may be made in details of the illustrated embodiment and various other embodiments provided without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mat dispenser or the like comprising, in combination, a molded tray having generally upstanding peripheral walls, a flexible molded dispenser cover for said tray having edges bonded to the top of said peripheral walls to define a reservoir space for a treating liquid within said tray below said cover, a plurality of resilient posts spaced from each other and extending between the underside of said cover and th urge said cover vertically into normal spatial relationship to the bottom of said tray, a plurality of closely spaced dispenser bosses on said cover extending up to a uniform height to define a horizontal surface plane, said bosses having a central self-closing vertical slit therein, a plurality of tubular extensions from and below said cover in vertical registry with said bosses respectively, said tubular extensions having an always open central channel in alignment with a slit in the boss thereabove, the bottom of each of said channel opening into a conical flare at the bottom of its respective tubular extension, the bottoms of said tubular extensions being in a common horizontal plane adjacent but above the bottom of said tray.

2. A dispenser as set forth in claim 1 for liquid germicide or other treating liquid, having integral spaced collars adjacent the top of each of said bosses respectively, a check valve positioned adjacent one of said peripheral walls to admit air into said tray above said liquid and to prevent spilling of such liquid, said check valve being removable from a recess so that said tray may be refilled through said recess.

bottom of said tray to 3. A mat dispenser or the like comprising, in combination, a base having general upstanding peripheral walls, a cover to close said base and enclose a space for a fluidlike treating material, a plurality of resilient posts spaced from each other and extending between the underside of said cover and the bottom of said base to urge said cover into normal spatial relationship to the bottom of said base, a plurality of closely spaced dispenser bosses on said cover, said bosses having a central self-closing capillary passage therein, a plurality of tubular extensions from and below said cover in vertical registry with said bosse respectively, said tubular extensions having an always open central channel in alignment with said passage in the boss thereabove, the bottom of each of said channels opening into a wider portion at the bottom of its respective tubular extension, the bottoms of said tubular extensions being adjacent but above the bottom of said base, means to vent air into said base, and means to refill said base with treating material.

4. A mat dispenser or the like comprising, in combination, a tray-like base generally open inside to contain substantially all of a supply of liquid substance to be dispensed, a liquid-proof cover for said base bonded thereto, a plurality of closely spaced dispenser bosses distributed over said cover, said bosses having a small axial passage for said substance, and passageway means extending below said cover in alignment with said passages of said bosses respectively to convey said substance to and through said passages when said cover is depressed, said passageway means terminating adjacent but above the bottom of said base, said bosses and passageway means being elastomeric, and further means to return said cover to normal undepressed position.

5. A mat dispenser or the like comprising, in combination, a relatively flat hollow base having a flexible upper surface and a generally open interior adapted to contain substantially all of a supply of liquid to be dispensed, a plurality of upstanding flexible tubular members adjacent to one another covering said upper surface and extending into said open interior of said base, passageways extending through said members respectively adapted to yield and discharge said liquid when a group of said members is depressed toward said base by forcing said liquid upwardly through said passageways to engage whatever i depressing said group, means to return said group to normal undepressed position, and further means to vent air into said open interior when said group is returned to said normal undepressed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS UNITED {STATES RPATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No., 3,067 ,913 December ll 1962 Matthew: Leroy Allison It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 43, for "FIG'" read FIGURE column 2, line 60, strike out the comma; line 64, for "portions" read portion line 68 for "compressed" read compressing column 4, line 15, for "channels" read channel o Signed and sealed this 6th day of August 1963,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

